James "Jim" Franklin Brawley

Obituary: James (Jim) Franklin Brawley, age 86, died Monday, November 11, 2013 at CMC-NorthEast, Concord, NC after a brief illness. He was born June 25, 1927 in Mecklenburg County, NC, the son of the late Robert Franklin Brawley and Genolia Deal Brawley. Jim was a 1944 graduate of Winecoff High School and a 1982 graduate of Pfeiffer College. Jim finished his life-long career in the U.S. Postal Service as a regional budget and finance director where he worked at the General Mail Facility in Charlotte, NC. He began his career as a letter carrier and later sorted mail on a train from Charlotte to Washington, DC. He also served on the former Cabarrus Memorial Hospital Board of Trustees from 1987 to 1993. Jim was a veteran of the U.S. Navy having served at the end of World War II. In 1949, he began a racing hobby with the Carolina Racing Team. Later in 1950, he raced for NASCAR where he ranked in the top twenty-five season points standings before returning to the Navy for a second tour of duty during the Korean Conflict. He loved traveling with his late wife taking special trips to Europe, the Caribbean, Hawaii, and rafting down the Salmon River in Idaho. During their 58 years of marriage, they enjoyed lots of trips traveling across America having visited every state except Alaska. Jim had a strong faith in God and was a member of Jackson Park United Methodist Church, Kannapolis, NC. In addition to his parents, he is preceded in death by his wife, Edna Bazeley Brawley who died December 20, 2010; his siblings, Frances Carey, Mason Brawley, Betty Jean Raye, and Doris Brawley. A memorial service to celebrate his life will be held at 2:00 P.M. Thursday, November 14, 2013 at Whitley's Funeral Home Main Chapel, Kannapolis, NC officiated by Rev. Neal Brower. Burial will be private. The family will receive friends after the memorial service at the funeral home. Survivors include his two daughters, Susan Brawley Searcy & husband, Earl of Morganton, NC and Ann Brawley Milford & husband, James of Waxhaw, NC; one son, David F. Brawley & wife, Ladonna of Charlotte, NC; six grandchildren, Meghan Woodlief & husband, Bryan; Jason Searcy, Melissa Antaya & husband, Mike; Adam Brawley, Ryan Milford, and Josh Milford. Memorials may be made to Jackson Park United Methodist Church, 715 Mable Avenue, Kannapolis, NC 28083. On-line condolences may be left at www.whitleysfuneralhome.com.
Visitation: Following Memorial Service at Whitley's Funeral Home

Service: MEMORIAL SERVICE 2:00pm Thursday November 14, 2013 Whitley's Funeral Home Chapel

Interment: Private